Hello, my name is Andrea. I’m an architect in Seattle, and most of my time is spent on the computer either drawing, updating drawings of other people, or performing “housekeeping chores” with the drawing files.

When I was in high school I took one computer class (this was 1986, so wow! computers weren’t as integral to daily life then) and then declined to take computer classes in college, intending to learn what I needed to know when I began my “Career” working in architects’ offices.

I assumed, incorrectly, that I would not enjoy working on the computer and therefore prolonged learning computer software as long as possible.

When I began working, I realized that I would be spending most of my time on the computer. At first I felt silly that I hadn’t bothered to learn more about computers and then was simply glad that I actually enjoyed what I was being paid to do.

So if I may offer advice, I would say that while, duh, computers are invaluable today for many personal and work-related tasks, and it gives a headstart if you learn how to operate those fancy machines…you might surprise yourself, too, at how you enjoy working and playing with computers.

But to learn the lesson I learned with computers…be sure to try other stuff in school that you don’t think you’ll care for or which won’t “apply” to the career you think you’re interested in, but which you think yeah, would make you a more-rounded person.

Maybe that fencing or chess or water polo or Early Japanese History class will ignite interests in you that you didn’t know were there!

Learning can always be an imaginative and passionate process if you put some effort into it.

Best of luck!!!